frontlines

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A Family's Surprise Salute To Their Father

Keri Guten Cohen
Story Development Editor

bicycle and wounded herself, we would get a knock on the
door for medical help. He had his surgical kit at the house
and would even stitch people up during emergencies.
ince June 5, the Soleymani siblings have been urg-
"Our father worked like he was a resident well into his
ing me to surprise their father with a story about
senior years, taking middle-of-the-night calls and going to
his retirement from his 50-year medical practice.
the hospital for all kinds of emergency room trauma, no mat-
It's not what we usually do in this space. Yet the more
ter what. We listened to these stories at the dinner table —
information I received from them about their father, the
gunshot wounds, moped accidents. He doctored everyone.
more I liked the idea — not only of surprising
"He did not do this for the money," Roya said.
him here in print, but of rewarding a devoted
"He did this out of compassion and kindness, and
family's desire to tell their father's story.
he taught his five children these values by exam-
So, here goes.
ple. He was incredibly dedicated to healing."
Dr. Sion Nissim Soleymani was born in
And there are women in his life who helped
Shiraz, Iran, where he graduated from Pahlavi
make his dedication possible. First and foremost
University, Faculty of Medicine. He did his
is his wife, Dr. Elaine Soleymani, a family practice
internship at St. Barnabus Medical Center
doctor who shared an office with her husband.
in New Jersey. He did surgical residencies at
"She complemented the patient care nicely:'
Hahnemann Medical College in Pennsylvania
Roya said, "by focusing on more natural healing
and Beth Israel Hospital in New Jersey, and
remedies, which was very progressive thinking
Dr. Sion So leymani
he was a senior surgical resident at Broaddus
back then:' The other is Sunny Scarsella, his close
Hospital in West Virginia. He is certified by the
friend and office manager for 50 years.
American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American
Dr. Soleymani, who lives in Southfield, has a spiritual side,
College of Surgeons.
too, that is fed daily at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, where
He started his practice in Detroit and has been in the
he has been a member for 45 years.
Livonia area for about 35 years. He was on staff at St. Mary
"He still continues to go every Friday evening, both
Hospital, Sinai Grace Hospital and several other hospitals
Shabbos morning and evening for Minchah and Maariv,"
throughout the years.
Roya said. "He is one of the few members, besides clergy,
OK, so that tells you he was well-educated and well-con-
with this attendance rate. Everyone in this community knows
nected, but what does it tell you about the man?
him because he has his own seat"
In his 50 years of practice, says Roya Weinstein of
So, what will he do in retirement?
Farmington Hills, her father has treated as many as four
Well, he'll keep up with medical knowledge by going to
generations in some families — all with the same respect and medical staff meetings at St. Mary Hospital, where he is
love as if they were his own. For many, he was the only doc-
known as the "Godfather." He might cook some of those
tor they trusted.
Persian dishes he used to make or dabble even more in his
Now, we're getting somewhere.
Persian rug hobby. But mostly he'll travel to California, New
"He is the type of doctor that treated everyone in the
York and Boston to visit children and grandchildren — just
neighborhood growing up," Roya said. "If a child fell off her
like a retired father and grandfather is supposed to.

S

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